Over 200 kilograms of plastic taken from the beaches and streets of the Mother City now forms part of the first-ever EcoBrick tree to grace Cape Town streets, in the seaside suburb of Hout Bay.
Meraki Bay, a non-profit organisation all the way from Valencia, Spain is the fueling force behind this sustainable movement, done in aid of the GROWPRO EXPERIENCE company.
Essentially, Meraki Bay aims to utilise green-solutions in the fight against existing inequality in Cape Town, offering aid to the Hanberg community in Hout Bay and making a difference one street or beach clean-up at a time.
Founders, Ignacio Alonso and Carlos Andrés met Fidel and Peter from the Harvest Youth Centre got a first-hand view of the poor condition of some communities in the Mother City, making them realise the real need to support those in need and improve their living conditions.
Nicknamed the Eboabab, a unique tree has sprouted as a result of their efforts, with 800 EcoBricks being used in the process, producing a seven-metre-high structure that took over three months to create, while collecting all the needed material or pollutants needed to produce the towering creation.
A total of seven days were required to construct the unusual installation, utilising approximately 200kg of plastic and 40 participants.
Hanberg-based Harvest Youth Centre aims to not only provide shelter for street children but also encourage upliftment through various sport and artistic forms. Giving children exposed to violence and drug abuse a second chance at life.
While the tree is made of 100% recycled materials, it will also serve as a source of electricity for Hangberg Primary School. The structure has been fitted with solar panels and is able to generate much-need free power for the nearby school while contributing to the fight against plastic pollution.
What started as a simple steel structure has transformed into hope for those struggling through the challenging circumstances of their upbringing while significantly bettering the conditions of Cape Town’s beaches and trees, we think it’s a beautiful addition to the Host Bay skyline too.
Picture: Facebook/Meraki Bay
